I've been watching this tread for three pages and still did not see anyone with real experience simply put a list: S$W pro's/con's
Ok here goes, for the S&W:
Pros:
Ergonomics (grips, sights, feel, cylinder release, I personally like S&W TTs and THs)
Smooth DA trigger
Light crisp SA trigger (not always, but often)
Customer service
Forged, so not as bulky
Easy to do trigger jobs with
A VERY WIDE variety of alternate aftermarket grips to choose from. Grips *can* make a significant difference in shooting
Gun is lighter when it has a half lug (depending on your purpose, this can be an advantage)
Good enough to last a lifetime, unless you want to shoot hotter loads, and a lot of them
Cons:
Cost
Inability to handle a steady diet of "44 mag + P" from such makers as Buffalo bore
Older design than Ruger (ties into above)
Lighter weight than Redhawk (45 oz when with half lug vs Redhawk, 54oz) which increases felt recoil
2 piece frame, which some say weakens the overall design (I question how considerable this would be for shooting purposes when it is forged to begin with. Of course Ruger does not have a sideplate, but I think its because a sideplate is impractical with a cast frame)
I have not fired 10,000 rounds or anything like that through my S&W 29-2 but from firing it however many rounds I did, and firing my uncles 629 classic DX, these are my personal pros/cons for the S&W 629 (or even 29). I find the S&W 44 magnum to be a graceful instrument, and IMO its CONs are outweighed by the PROs. Hence, I have not sold my S&W 44 magnum! I actually have 3, but 2 are early collector's items, one being a first year example.